He was born in Lacassine, Louisiana, and lived in Lake Charles. He was a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, where he served as a Lector. He was a graduate of Lacassine High School and attended McNeese State University. Prior to his retirement he was a professor at McNeese and also worked as a professional photographer for over fifty years. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran. He learned photography at a naval school in Pensacola, Florida. After serving four years in the Navy, he worked as a camera man/photographer for KPLC in Lake Charles. He later attained his degree at McNeese State University. He was a teacher at Kaufman Elementary and later at S.J. Welsh. He decided to further his education and earned two doctorate degrees in Administration/Supervision and Educational Technology at East Texas State University. He was a professor at McNeese State University and taught there until 1990. He began his own photographic studio known as Ardoin's Photo Gallery and continued for over fifty years. In his lifetime he received many awards. One of his earliest achievements was being awarded first place at the local livestock competition and was able to attend the National Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Other achievements include: Pack 133 Cub Master, 1980 Phi Delta Kappa President, Golden Scholar member of the McNeese Alumni Association. He thoroughly loved camping and boating. He was loving and devoted to his family.
Survivors include his wife, Ilene Beatrice Hudson; sons, Dr. Charles James (C.J.) Ardoin II and wife Kimberly of Sulphur, Louisiana, Paul Matthew Ardoin and fiancé Brenda Martin of Westlake, Louisiana; daughter, Antoinette Ardoin Woodard and her husband Rod of Sulphur, Louisiana; brother, Daniel Ardoin of Lacassine, Louisiana; sister, Nadine Arbaugh of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Lindsey Janies, Chase Ardoin, Mark Ardoin, Danielle Woodard, and Ashley Woodard; great-grandchildren, Parker Janies, Brooklyn Janies, and Adrienne Ardoin. He is preceded in death by his parents, Webster and Lorena Ardoin, and his sister Jean Primeaux.
His funeral will take place at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church in Lake Charles, at 12:00 noon Monday March 5, 2012. Visitation services will be held from 5:00pm to 9:00pm on Sunday March 4, 2012, with a Cursillo Rosary at 6:00pm at Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles. Visitation will resume Monday from 9am until service time. Burial will follow at Lacassine Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mr. Ardoin's honor to the McNeese Foundation, 4205 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, La 70601.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.hixsonfuneralhomes.com
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